Mateo Kovacic has admitted he would have loved to have played alongside one Manchester City player who left the club this summer.
Kovacic became City’s first signing of the summer transfer window when they signed him from Chelsea for £25m.
The 29-year-old Croatia international is one of the most accomplished midfielders in the world, having played at two World Cups and won the Champions League four times.
The major trophy missing from his collection is the Premier League, which he failed to win during five seasons at Chelsea.
He’ll be aiming to help City win a fourth consecutive league crown this season, although he’ll have to do so without a City legend.
Kovacic has one regret
Kovacic was signed as a replacement for Ilkay Gundogan, who decided to join Barcelona when his City contract expired at the end of last season.
Kovacic featured in all three of City’s pre-season matches against Yokohama F. Marinos, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid, playing in the advanced midfield role Gundogan used to play.
The German has left big boots to fill, and Kovacic has admitted that he would have liked to have played alongside the 32-year-old.
“I’m different to Ilkay [Gundogan],” Kovacic said, via the Daily Mail.
“It’s a shame he’s not here anymore. I could have improved watching him because he has attributes that I’m missing – arriving in the box and scoring.”
MCN view: Kovacic comments show his attitude
How often does a new signing – especially one with the CV Kovacic has – arrive at their new club and immediately admit there are aspects of their game that they can improve?
As Chelsea fans will attest, Kovacic does need to work on his finishing. But the fact he has admitted as much suggests he will be working tirelessly to become an even better player at City.
Learning from Gundogan would have helped – and Kovacic is right to play down expectations of him replacing the German like-for-like – but it sounds like City’s new signing is committed to improving in any way he can.
